Control mechanism for garment pressing machines



CONTROL MECHANISM FOR GARMENT PRESSING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1953 5Sheets-Sheet 1 I 4 L L I 4.4

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' 8.6 M g 61 7a 1 7 7 5 7 A 71 /a2 77 as I INVENTOR 7 ATTORNEYS Feb. 4,1936. A. F. HANNEY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR GARMENT PRESSING MACHINES FiledAug. 5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAH e a z a a 0 50 f0 5 50 {a 50 I as .333 I J 54 If [6 f7 i 62? u an FM! 4 I 34 f a; 37 39 a? 12 4a 46 J g 1- 543 flW Q 4'2 ATTORN EY-S.

Feb. 4, 1935. HANNEY 2,029,715-

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR GARMENT PRESSING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1933 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Will/111,111!!! Patented Feb. 4, 1936 J ETE T eerieCONTROL MECHANESM FOR GARMENT PRESSING MACHINES Application August 5,1933, Serial No. 683,815

11 Claims.

This invention relates to control mechanism for presses, particularlypresses of the type used in garment and laundry work.

One object of my invention is to provide a compact arrangement of thecontrol valves and operating parts therefor which reduces the number ofparts, thus contributing to a cheaper construction.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the number of connectionsnecessary to be made between the control mechanism and the operatingparts of the press on the one hand, and between the control mechanismand the power supply on the other hand.

Other objects and .advantages will be disclosed in the followingdescription and the essential features of the invention are summarizedin the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation'partly in section of apressing machine showing the control mechanism; Fig. 2 is an enlargedsection taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 to '7 are sectionalviews taken along similarly numbered lines of Fig. 2; while Fig. 8 is adiagrammatic view of the control mechanism.

I have chosen to illustrate my control mechanism as applied to a pressof the type disclosed, described and claimed in the copendingapplication of John P. Singiser, Ser. No. 633,322, filed August 2, 1933,although it will be understood that the mechanism is .applicable to anypressing machine having coacting pressing elements.

A. complete description of the construction and operation of the presshere illustrated will be found in the above mentioned application andonly sufficient description will be given here to permit anunderstanding of the operation of the control mechanism. The presscomprises a suitable frame it supporting two coacting pressing members,a head i l and a bed or buck t2, the head being supported in fixedposition and the bed being supported on a carriage l3 equipped withrollers M which travel on rails I5 permitting the bed to have atranslatory motion in a substantially horizontal direction from and.into registering position beneath the head. The bed is provided with astem ES extending downwardly through .an opening of the carriage whichpermits a limited vertical movement of the bed with respect to itscarriage. Translatory movement of the bed is provided by cylinder l8having a suitable piston and rod 2%. The piston rod is connected to thebed carriage by link 2|, cranks Z2 and 23 pivoting about the shaft 24,and link 25 connected to the carria AS V w d. in ig- 1, movement of thepiston rod 20 to the right Will move the bed 12 into registeringposition beneath the head. The return movement of the bed to its outeror open position is caused by spring 26 connected by crank 21 to theshaft E l. A snubber I9 is connected by suitable linkage to the shaft 21 to cushion the action of the moving parts.

When the pressing members are in registration, the bed is raisedsubstantially vertically from its carriage and pressed against the headby a piston 28 in a cylinder 29 mounted on the frame beneath the head.The piston rod 30 contacts the stem l6 thus raising the bed. The piston28 and cylinder 29 are hereinafter referred to as the reciprocationmotor.

The control mechanism here illustrated is somewhat similar in functionto that illustrated, described and claimed in my co-pending applicationSer. No. 683,814, filed August 5, 1933. The control mechanism comprisesin general inlet and outlet valves for the control of the flow andexhaust of fluid pressure to and from the translation motor and similarvalves for the reciprocation motor. A manually operable control handleserves tomove the control valves for the translation motor inpress-closing direction. Interlocking means actuated by movement of thebed into registration with the head thereafter actuated the controlvalves for the reciprocation motor in press-closing direction, causingthe bed to be pressed against the head for the final pressing operation.For returning the bed to its open position, I provide fluid pressureactuated release means, the control valve for which is operated by amanual control member. This preferably comprises a guard depending in aposition where it will be struck by the operators hands if they areaccidentally resting upon the bed as it moves into registering positionwith the head. A similar movement of the guard is used for the actuationof the control valve for the releasing means in the regular openingoperation of the press. The parts of the control mechanism abovementioned are used for individual press operation and I also providemeans for the cross or tandem operation of a plurality of presses. Thismeans takes the form of an additional valve at one press for admittingfluid pressure from the main supply conduit to the release means of asecond press. I also provide means for actuating this additional valvefor releasing a second press by the movement of a control member whichcauses actuation of the first press in press closing direction.

1 ward theirclosed positions.

The detailed arrangement illustrated shows all of these control valvesgrouped together and preferably arranged in a single valve block 3|mounted on the press frame. In the form illustrated this block comprisesan upper portion 32 carrying the valves and valve stems and a lowerportion 33 in which are located connecting conduits and passageways forconducting the fluid pressure to required points. As shown in Fig. 2, 34is an outlet and 35 an inlet valve for the translation motor. 36 is arelease valve controlling the flow of fluid pressure to a release meansof a second press. 31 is a release valve for the instant press. 38 is aninlet and 33 an outlet valve for controlling the flow of fluid pressureto the reciprocation motor. It will be noted that I have grouped thevalves connected to the main fluid pressure supply conduit in thecentral portion of the valve block where they may be connected by shortpassageways to said conduit. This main supply conduit is illustrated at46 and a strainer 4! is provided in a lateral projecting portion of thevalve block. The fluid pressure enters the valve block at 42 where across passageway 43 communicates directly with valve 37,

and, through ports 44 and 45 controlled by needlev valves 46 and 47,fluid pressure is admitted to passageway 49 which communicates withvalves 35 and 36, and to passageway 49 which communicates with valve 38.Suitable outlet ducts 50 lead from the various valves in the upperportion of the block to the connecting conduits and passageways in thelower portion of the block. Springs 5| normally bias the valves to- Theinlet valves 35 and 38 for the translation and reciprocation motors areprovided with packing glands 52 and 53 respectively.

The fluid pressure connections from the valve block to the variousoperating parts of the press are as follows:

54 is for the exhaust from outlet valve 34 of the translation motor. 55communicates with the cylinder l8 of the translation motor. 56 leads tothe release means of a second press. 51 is connected with the releasemeans of the instant press. 58 communicates with the cylinder 29 of thereciprocation motor and 59 is for the exhaust from outlet valve 39 ofthe reciprocation motor.

In Fig. 3 another conduit 66 is shown which communicates with a valveand conduit of a second press similar to 36 and 56 whereby fluidpressure is transmitted to the release means of the instant pressthrough conduit 66, check valve 6|, passageway 62 and needle valve 63 toconduit. 51 for actuating the release means of the instant press.Conduit 55 is the only communicating means between the translation motorand the valve block and serves for both inlet and outlet of fluidpressure to cylinder l8. To connect conduit 55 with exhaust conduit 54,I provide a diagonally extending passageway 64 in the valve block and ina similar manner at the opposite end of the valve block a diagonalpassageway 65 connects the common inlet and outlet duct 58 of thereciprocation motor with the exhaust conduit 59.

The arrangement of the valves in one block, and preferably in alignment,permits a very compact arrangement of the actuators for the variousvalves; The arrangement illustrated comprises a single shaft supportinga series of cams opposite the respective valve stems. This arrangementis most clearly seen in Fig. 2 wherein cam shaft 66 is supported forrotation on the frame of the press in suitable bearings 61 and carryingcam 14 for actuation of valve 34, 15 for valve 35 and T6 for valve 36,these cams being rigidly secured to the shaft 66 as by pins. Foractuation of valve S'L cam l! is mounted with a suitable bearing onshaft 66 to freely rotate thereabout. For actuation of valves 38 and 39,cams i8 and T9 are mounted'on a sleeve shaft 80 supported in suitablebearings 8| for rotation about the shaft 66.

The connections between the cams and various operating parts are asfollows:

For actuation of cams l4, l5 and 16 which are rigid with shaft 66, Iprovide a control handle 82 connected by rod 83 and arm 84 with shaft66.

The control handle 82 has two operative positions, a first or normalposition for individual press operation and a second or abnormalposition for cross or tandem operation of two presses.

The position of earns 74, and 16 when the press is in its open position,as seen in Fig. 1, is illustrated in Fig. 7 where cam 14 is in ahorizontal position maintaining valve 34 open. For individual pressoperation, the control handle is moved to its first or normal position,which causes cam 14 to pass beyond the stem of valve 34, thus permittingthe outlet valve 34 to close impelled by its spring, and at the sametime cam 15 contacts the stem of valve 35 admitting fluid pressure tothe translation motor, thus causing the bed to move into registeringposition with the head. For tandem operation, control handle 82 is movedto its second or abnormal position where cam 15 still contacts the stemof valve 35 and cam 16 contacts the stem of valve 36 admitting fluidpressure to the release means of a second press, thus causing opening ofthat second press simultaneously with the initiation of the closing ofthe first press For actuating valves 38 and 39 to cause thereciprocation motor to close the press when the pressing members are inregistration, the sleeve shaft carrying the actuators l8 and 19 forthese valves is connected with interlocking means arranged to beactuated by movement of the bed into registering position. While anyinterlocking means would be suitable for this purpose, I haveillustrated a mechanical interlock similar to that shown in myco-pending application, Ser. No. 683,814, before mentioned, comprisingan interlock arm 85 having a follower 66 travelling along a cam 81mounted on the bed carriage. This cam has a notch 38 into which thefollower moves, when the pressing members reach registering position,impelled by spring 89 acting on 1 linkage connected with the interlockarm. The connection between this arm and the sleeve shaft 80 abovementioned comprises link 9!), bell crank 9!, link 92 and arm 93connected with the sleeve shaft. The arrangement of the valves 38 and 39and their actuators l8 and T9 is clearly shown in Fig. 5 where the partsare illustrated in their normal position with the press open. Clockwisemovement of the interlock arm 85, caused by the follower 86 moving intothe notch 88, causes movement of cam 19 out of contact with the stem ofoutlet valve 39 of the reciprocation motor, permitting it to close, andcauses cam 16 to contact the stem of inlet valve 33, thus admittingfluid pressure to the reciprocation motor and pressing the bed againstthe head.

For actuating the control valves in press-opening direction, I providefluid pressure actuated release means preferably arranged so that onerelease member causes actuation of the control valves of the translationand reciprocation motors in press-opening direction simultaneously.While various arrangements of this fluid operated release member arepossible, I have provided a very compact arrangement by mounting arelease cylinder closely adjacent and preferably connected to the valveblock. The arrangement shown comprises a cylinder 94 having a suitablepiston 95, the piston rod 96 of which extends through a suitable bearing91 and engages a shoe 98 in free connection as shown in Fig. 6. Thisshoe is arranged for limited vertical movement guided by pins 99. Thepiston 95 is normally held in its lowermost position by a spring IllIl.Coacting members are provided on the cam shaft 66 and the sleeve shaft30 so that the shoe 98 may contact such members and return therespective shafts to their normal position for opening the press. Thesemembers which coact with the shoe are a flanged collar llll rigid withshaft 66 and a similar flange I92 rigid with sleeve shaft 853. The cap33 is shaped as shown in Fig. 6 to fit the flanges NH and I32 and is ofsuflicient width to engage both, as shown in Fig. 2. The position of theflanged collars after the valves have been actuated to close the pressis shown in broken lines at I33 of Fig. 6. As the shoe 38 movesupwardly, it returns the collars to the full line positions I51 and 02in Figs. 5 and 6 which returns cams M and T3 to their horizontalpositions as seen in Figs. 7 and 5 respectively whichactuates valves 34,35, 38 and 39 in press-opening direction. Fluid pressure is admitted torelease cylinder 94 by means of conduit 5'! as previously described.

The admission of fluid pressure to the release cylinder through conduit51 for individual press operation is controlled by valve 31, aspreviously mentioned, through passageway 43. The flow of pressure toconduit 51 in cross or tandem operation of two presses is by means ofconduit 63, check valve 6! and passageway 62, as previously described.The movement of actuator H for valve 3? is caused by swinging the guardI3 to which cam 11 is connected by arm I35 and rod Hi3. This is clearlyshown in Fig. 6 where cam TI is shown in its normal position with theguard swinging freely and movement of the guard rearwardly causesmovement of arm I05 and cam I? in a counter-clockwise direction so thatthe cam engages the stern of valve 31 admitting pressure to cylinder 94and causing shoe 98 to return either shaft 66 or both shafts 63 and 80to their normal position for opening the press.

The operating of a single press is as follows:

With the parts in the position of Fig. 1, the operator arranges the layof the work on the bed I2 and moves the control handle 82 to its firstposition. This handle through rod 83 and arm 84 moves cam '54 out ofcontact with the stem of valve 34 and cam I5 into contact with the stemof valve 35, thus closing the outlet and opening the inlet valve toadmit fluid pressure through 43424d-3835-53 to translation cylinder I3.Piston rod 23 moves forwardly and, through linkage, moves bed I2rearwardly into registration with head II. When the members come intoregistering position, follower 36 moves into notch 88 of cam 81 impelledby spring 89. arm 85 moves clockwise and, through the connections3Il9I32-93, rotates sleeve shaft 83 moving cam 13 out of contact withstem of valve 39 and moving cam 18 into contact with the stem of valve38, thus admitting fluid pressure through 40-42-43-454938.-58 tocylinder 29 of the Interlock reciprocation motor. Piston rod 30 movesupwardly contacting stem [6 and raising bed I2 into pressure engagementwith head II. When the pressing operation is completed, the operatorswings guard I rearwardly or in a clockwise direction which, through rodI36 and arm I05, rotates cam TI to a position contacting the stem ofvalve 31, thus admitting fluid pressure through 4Il42-433l to conduit torelease cylinder 94. Piston 95 moves upwardly raising cap 98 intocontact with flanges I0! and I02 thus rotating cam shaft 66 and sleeveshaft 80 to their starting positions with cam I4 contacting the stem ofvalve 34 and cam 19 contacting the stem of valve 39 which exhausts thefluid pressure from the translation motor through 55-Ii4 3454 andexhausts the reciprocation motor through 58-65--39-59 and causes thepress to open.

For tandem operation, the operator after arranging the lay of the workmoves control handle 82 to its second position which initiates theclosing of the instant press in the manner just described but inaddition, brings cam 16 into contact with the stem of valve 33 whichadmits the fluid pressure from the main supply conduit throughpassageways 42, 43, 48, valve 36, and

conduit 56 to parts of a second press corresponding to conduit 60, checkvalve 6|, duct 62, and conduit 51 to a release cylinder of the secondpress, thus causing opening of the second press.

I have thus provided control mechanism very compactly arranged and whichis easily installed by mounting the valve block and its attached releasecylinder on the press frame and making the necessary connections withrods 83, 92 and I06. The connections between the cam actuating rods 83,92 and IE6 and the operating parts of the press are very few and.cheaply constructed. The piping conections are very simple. Those forsingle operation comprise the air supply 40, and conduits 55 and 58leading to the fluid motors, assuming that the connection 57 between therelease cylinder and the block were part of the unitary assembly of suchvalve block. For tandem operation, two additional connections would benecessary, namely, conduits 56 and 50.

What I claim is:

1. In a press of the class described, the combination of a head, a bedhaving translatory and reciprocatory movement toward and from the head,a fluid motor for causing each movement, inlet and outlet valves forcontrolling the flow and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from eachmotor, rotatable actuators for moving said valves in one direction, andpower means for moving said valves in the opposite direction.

2. In a press of the class described, the combination of a head, a bedhaving translatory and reciprocatory movement toward and from the head,a fluid motor for causing each movement, inlet and outlet valves forcontrolling the flow and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from eachmotor, rotatable actuators for moving said valves in one direction, anda release member common to both actuators for moving said valves in theopposite direction.

3. In a press of the class described, the combination of a head, a bedhaving translatory and reciprocatory movement toward and from the head,a fluid motor for causing each movement, inlet and outlet valves forcontrolling the flow and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from eachmotor, actuators rotatable about a common axis for moving said valves inone direction, and a release member common to both actuators for movingsaid valves in the opposite direction.

4. In a press of the class described, the combination of coactingrelatively movable pressing members, two power means acting serially tomove one of said members toward the other, control members for eachpower means supported on adjacent aligned rotatable shafts, projectionson adjacent ends of said shafts, and a common member adapted to contactsaid projections and simultaneously rotate said shafts.

5. In a press of the class described, the combination of relativelymovable pressing members, a fluid motor for actuating one of saidmembers, control valves therefor, a fluid pressure actuated controlmember, a control valve therefor, an oscillatable shaft, all of saidvalves being mounted in a common valve block with their valve stemsadjacent said shaft, cams on said shaft adapted to contact said stems,the cams for said firstnamed control valves being fast to said shaft,the

cam for said second-named control valve being loose on said shaft, meansfor operating said loose cam, means for moving said shaft in onedirection to actuate said motor control valves to cause a press-closingeffect, and an operative connection between said control member andshaft for moving said shaft in another direction to actuate said motorcontrol valves and cause a pressopening effect. I

6. In a press of the class described, the combination of a pair ofcoacting relatively movable pressing members, a fluid pressure actuatedmotor for causing said movement, control valves for said motor, a fluidpressure actuated release servo-motor, a control valve therefor, amovable shaft, operating members for said valves lying adjacent saidshaft, actuators for said motor control valves rigid with said shaft, anactuator for the servo-motor control valve movable on said shaft, meansfor operating said last-named actuator, means for moving said shaft inone direction to cause a press-closing effect, and an operativeconnection between said servo-motor and said shaft for movingsaid shaftin another direction to cause a press-opening effect.

'7. In a press of the class described, the combination of a head, a bedhaving translatory and reciprocatory movement toward and from the head,a fluid motor for causing each movement,

' control valves for each motor, fluid pressure actuated release meansfor said press, a control valve therefor, fluid pressure actuatedrelease means for a second press, a control valve therefor, actuatorsfor each of said control valves, the actuators for the control valvesfor the translation motor and for the release means for the second pressbeing secured to a shaft, whereby movement of the shaft in one directionactuates the translation motor valves to move the bed toward the headand actuates the release means to open the second press, the actuatorfor the control valve for the release means for the first press beingsupported for rotation on said shaft, the actuators for the controlvalves of the reciprocation motor being mounted on a second shaftcoaxial with the first named shaft, so that movement of the second shaftin one direction actuates the reciprocation motor valves to 'move thebed toward the head, and said release means for the first named presshaving operative connections for moving both shafts in a direction toactuate the motor valves to move the bed from the head.

8. In a press of the class described, the combination of a head, a bedmovable into and out of registration and into and out of pressureengagement with the head, a fluid motor for causing each movement,control valves for each motor, fluid pressure actuated release means foropening said press, a control valve therefor, fluid pressure actuatedrelease means for opening a second press, a control valve therefor,actuators for each of said control valves, a control handle, a fingerguard, interlocking means arranged for operation by movement of the bedinto registration with the head, said actuators for the valves of thetwo fluid motors being supported on coaxial shafts, the actuators forthe control valves for the registration-producing motor and for therelease means for the second press having an operative connection withthe control handle, whereby to initiate registration of the firstnamedpress and to open the second press, the actuator for the control valvefor the release means for the first-named press having an operativeconnection with the finger guard, wherev by to open the first-namedpress upon actuation of the guard, the actuators for the control valvesfor the press-closing motor having an operative connection with theinterlocking means, whereby to initiate movement into pressureengagement :2

upon the bed reaching registration, and said release means beingoperable to move the coaxial shafts in press-opening andout-of-registratlon direction.

9. In a press of the class described, the combination of a pair ofcoacting pressing members, one of which is movable substantiallyhorizontally into and out of registration with the other member andmovable substantially vertically into and out of pressure engagementtherewith, two fluid pressure actuated motors for moving said member,one motor for causing horizontal movement and one for causing verticalmovement, valves for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to saidmotors, a shaft, said valves having operating members adjacent saidshaft, actuators rigid with said shaft for moving the operating membersfor said horizontal-movement-producing motor valves, manual means formoving said shaft and actuators in into-registration-producingdirection, an actuator freely rotatable on said shaft and controlledautomatically after movement of said movable member into registrationfor moving the operating members of said vertical-movement-producingmotor valves in intopressure-engagement-producing direction, and meansfor simultaneously moving all of said actuators in press-opening andout-of-registrationproducing direction.

' 10. A press as in claim 9, in which said lastnamed means is a fluidactuated servo-motor, and including operative connections between saidservo-motor and said shaft and said freely rotatable actuator for movingsaid parts.

11. A press as in claim 9, in which said lastnamed means is a fluidactuated servo-motor, and including operative connections between saidservo-motor and said shaft and said freely rotatable actuator for movingsaid parts, a valve controlling flow of fluid to said servo-motor, afinger guard, and an operative connection between said guard andservo-motor control valve.

ANGUS F. HANNEY.

